Just 16 games into the NBA season, a feud between Golden State Warriors point guard Chris Paul and referee Scott Foster resurfaced during the Wednesday matchup against the Phoenix Suns.
Chris Paul had another run-in with referee Scott Foster on Wednesday night at Footprint Center. In the closing minute of the first half in the Warriors’ matchup against the Phoenix Suns, Paul received a technical foul for expressing his thoughts to Foster. However, he continued to engage with the referee, leading to another technical foul and his ejection from the game.
This incident adds to the already infamous history between Paul and Foster on the basketball court. Notably, Paul's teams have struggled in playoff games officiated by Foster, with a record of 3-17, including a streak of 13 consecutive losses.
NBA fans and players took to social media to share their thoughts on Paul's early exit from the game. In his first game in Phoenix since being traded to the Warriors, Paul's time on the court lasted only 17 minutes. Despite contributing six points and six assists, he was forced to leave the game prematurely, marking another chapter in the ongoing Paul-Foster rivalry.
After the game, Paul disclosed that his ongoing conflict with Foster is rooted in a personal issue between them. Intriguingly, Paul hinted that the matter involves his son, adding a layer of complexity to their contentious relationship.
"We had a situation years ago, and it's personal. You know what I mean? The league knows, everybody knows. It's just a situation with my son. Yeah, so I'm okay with the ref saying whatever they want to say, but just don't use a tech to get your point across, you know what I mean? I got to do a better job of staying on the floor for my teammates, but that's that," Paul said.
"It was a whole thing, man, but it's still been a thing for a while," Paul said. "I'm not saying nothing to get fined, though."
As Chris pointed out, the entire league is fully cognizant of the longstanding rivalry between the player and the official. It remains to be seen whether the NBA will delve into the matter and take any action.
The ongoing feud between Paul and Foster is undeniably one of the most intense, amusing, and captivating long-term rivalries in NBA history.
